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C H A T H U R T H I D E S I L V A

973-***-**** adhuhm@r.postjobfree.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chathurthidesilva/ Experienced urban planner with an education and training in planning and design projects of all scales, from national plans to site plans. Able to bring a different perspective given the experience of working outside the United States. Tech- savvy and extremely proficient with urban planning and design software. PhD in Urban Systems New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers University Newark 2017 – 2021 (March)

- Dissertation title: “Private Sound Environments: Use of Headphones in Urban Public Spaces” B.Sc. (Hons.) in Town and Country Planning University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka 2011 - 2015

- Graduated top of the batch with First Class honors Association of Chartered Certified Accountants 2011 PhD Candidate / Researcher “Private Sound Environments: Use of Headphones in Urban Public Spaces,” 6/2019 – 3/2021 I investigate people’s use of headphones in urban public places in New York City. In particular, I attempt to understand why and how users make headphone-related decisions, along with what users’ experiences and behaviors are like while using headphones.

- Collecting user data by designing and executing focus groups, interviews, co-design workshops, surveys, and observations

- Analyzing data using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods such as content analysis, factor analysis, and various statistical analyses

- Visualizing, synthesizing, and translating findings to make actionable recommendations to better user experience Team Member Sonic Cement: Aural Environments, Utopian Visions sound art project, 2/2019 – 5/2019 The project explored the relationships between sound, architecture, and urban environments with a site-specific composition that is intended to move sounds across the surfaces of the buildings.

- Participated in reading groups with team members for brainstorming

- Examined the tonal qualities, delay times, and acoustic properties of the ricocheting sound waves across brutalist buildings of Rutgers Newark

- Participated in the artwork by projecting sounds from radios and boomboxes into the nooks, crannies, surfaces, and shapes of the Rutgers Newark buildings in a choreographed manner, as directed by the team leader, Andrew Demirjian Project Coordinator / Manager Feasibility study for the proposed township development in Lolugaswewa, Sri Lanka, 11/2016 – 6/ 2017

- Lead project coordination from connecting key stakeholders, experts, and government officials; coordinating meetings; and organizing field visits

- Partnered with team members and consultants from the design stage to project completion

- Interpreted MOUs, planning policies, statues, ordinances, and regulations; and developed project budget and project report Team Leader Social Impact Assessment for the proposed High-Altitude Training Center in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka, 12/2015 – 7/2017 This assessment was carried out in order to gauge the social impacts that the proposed High-Altitude Training Center would bring about, upon completion.

- Lead project coordination from identifying and establishing a network of key stakeholders, experts, and local government staff; building professional relationships with them; negotiating; coordinating meetings; and organizing field visits

- Carried out the Social Impact Assessment by gathering field data through community co-design workshops, focus groups, interviews, and surveys; measuring data; analyzing data using both quantitative and qualitative methods; drawing conclusions; developing narratives; and producing documentation Researcher “An Examination of the Temporal Impacts of Non-Verbal Environmental Cues Affecting Safety, on Pedestrian Emotions and Walking Speeds,” 7/2015 – 12/2015

I investigated how environmental factors affect people’s experiences, particularly, their perceptions of safety, which were quantified on the basis of their arousal, i.e. the calmness or stress felt, and their walking speeds.

- Collected user data by designing and executing surveys, observations, and shadowing exercises

- Analyzed data using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods such as content analysis, usability testing, and a variety E D U C A T I O N

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of statistical analyses including Q-scores, Chi-squared tests, regression, and t-tests

- Visualized, synthesized, and translated findings to make actionable and practical recommendations Team Member Site planning project in Maradana, Sri Lanka, 6/2015 - 9/2015 Engaged in formulating a site plan for the locality of Maradana (a city in the Colombo metropolitan area), Sri Lanka, with a team of six members.

- Gathered field data through community co-design workshops, focus groups, interviews, surveys, and observations; measuring data; analyzed data using quantitative and qualitative methods; visualized data using charts, graphs, diagrams, maps, renderings, 3D models; and drew conclusions, developed narratives and strategies

- Produced a site plan including zoning plans, subdivision plans, land use plans, feasibility studies, impact assessments, environmental reviews, housing plans, and design recommendations giving due consideration to planning and building regulations applicable to the site

- Produced project documentation and presented outcomes to a public audience Team Member Local planning project in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, 1/2015 - 3/2015 Engaged in formulating a local development plan for the locality of Anuradhapura (a historic city located in the North-Central area), Sri Lanka, with a team of 16 members.

- Gathered field data through community co-design workshops, focus groups, interviews, surveys, and observations; measuring data; analyzed data using quantitative and qualitative methods; visualized data using charts, graphs, diagrams, maps, renderings, 3D models; and drew conclusions, developed narratives and strategies

- Produced a local development plan including zoning plans, land use plans, transportation plans, feasibility studies, demographic assessments, housing plans, impact assessments, environmental reviews, and design recommendations giving due consideration to planning and building regulations applicable to the site

- Produced project documentation and presented outcomes to a public audience Team Member Framework planning project in Negombo, Sri Lanka, 9/2014 - 12/2014 Engaged in a development project which involved preparing a framework plan for the Negombo Municipal Council Area. This is an environmentally sensitive area that is home to Sri Lanka’s largest surviving wetland.

- Gathered field data through community co-design workshops, focus groups, interviews, surveys, and observations; measuring data; analyzed data using quantitative and qualitative methods; visualized data using charts, graphs, diagrams, maps, renderings, 3D models; and drew conclusions, developed narratives and strategies

- Produced a regional plan including zoning plans, land use plans, coast conservation plans, industrial development plans, feasibility studies, impact assessments, and design recommendations with due consideration to planning and building regulations applicable to the site

- Produced project documentation and presented outcomes to a public audience Team Member Thematic planning project in Thalawakelle, Sri Lanka, 8/2013 - 11/2013 Engaged in a project which involved preparing a development plan for the Lindula-Thalawakelle Urban Council area.

- Gathered field data through community co-design workshops, focus groups, interviews, surveys, and observations; measuring data; analyzed data using quantitative and qualitative methods; visualized data using charts, graphs, diagrams, maps, renderings, 3D models; and drew conclusions, developed narratives and strategies

- Produced a development plan including zoning plans, land use plans, feasibility studies, impact assessments, economic assessments, and design recommendations giving due consideration to planning and building regulations applicable to the site

- Produced project documentation and presented outcomes to a public audience Graduate Teaching Assistant Hillier College of Architecture and Design, New Jersey Institute of Technology 9/2017 – present

- Lead course reviewer, evidence editor, and website administrator for the National Association of Schools of Art and Design

(NASAD) curriculum review

- Supervisor at the college’s laser lab

- Lead course reviewer, evidence editor, and website administrator for the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) curriculum review; and assisted in setting up the exhibits for the review

- Carried out student consultations and grading for Prof. Gabrielle Esperdy’s History of Architecture I course

- Conducted extensive research and produced an annotated bibliography on “urban public spaces” for Prof. Karen Franck

- Graded student assignments and exams for Prof. Ersin Altin’s History of Architecture III course

- Ensured accurate transfer of databases from the old Digital Archive of Newark Architecture (DANA) site to the new

- Assisted Prof. Matthew Schwartz’s Digital Fabrication and Advanced Architecture Graphics courses. Assisted students in the operation of laser cutters, 3D printers, and CNC machines; prepared textual and video tutorials on the operation of these machines; and troubleshot faulty machines, took machines apart and reassembled to replace components W O R K E X P E R I E N C E

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Teaching Assistant Center for Pre-College Programs, New Jersey Institute of Technology 6/2019 – 7/2019

- Oversaw 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students as they participated in Chemistry, mathematics, communications, and test prep classes

- Assisted students in chemistry experiments and other hands-on activities, guided them to explore careers in STEM, accompanied them on field visits, and oversaw them as they engaged in sports and other physical activities Lecturer Department of Town and Country Planning, University of Moratuwa 1/2016 – 6/2017

- Delivered lectures, seminars and tutorials in Applied Mathematics I, Applied Mathematics II, Applied Statistics, Planning Techniques, Introduction to Information Technology, Spatial Information Systems, and Programming-Based GIS

- Developed and implemented new and non-conventional methods of teaching such as Game Theory and role playing

- Designed, prepared, and developed brand-new teaching materials customized to students’ needs

- Undertook research projects and actively contributed to the university’s research profile

- Served as the mentor of the entrepreneurial incubation cell of the Department

- Co-supervised dissertations of 6 undergraduates. One of them was awarded the Most Outstanding Research Award in 2017 by the Institute of Town Planners Sri Lanka

- Represented the institution at professional conferences, seminars and contributed to these as necessary

- Established collaborative links outside the university with industrial, commercial and public organizations GIS, Remote Sensing, and Data Management Intern International Water Management Institute, Sri Lanka 3/2015 – 10/2015

- Performed GIS/RS operations such as geometrical corrections, projection standardization, image classification, application of standard algorithms/models, time series analysis using multi-sensor satellite imageries, and prepared standard outputs

- Single-handedly developed spatial models for bulk data processing and spatial analyses

- Created geospatial datasets and cartographic outputs from primary and secondary data sources

- Provided technical support to researchers to carry out complex geospatial analyses for research and management projects

- Assisted in the collection, compilation, evaluation, interpretation, maintenance, and distribution of spatial, non-spatial, and metadata

- Data collection, measuring, mapping, drafting, data conversion, and data manipulation for the purpose of updating GIS maps

- ArcGIS, QGIS - Collaborative team player

- ERDAS Imagine, ENVI - Resourceful and innovative

- AutoCAD, Google SketchUp - Flexible and resilient

- SPSS, STATA, R - Able to meet deadlines

- NVIVO - Able to multitask

- 3D printing, Laser cutting, Operating CNCs - Detail-oriented

- Data collection, analysis, and synthesis - Extremely organized

- Data visualization - Able to work independently

- Technical writing, report writing - Effective communication skills, both written and oral

- Microsoft Office packages - Rigorous in research, both quantitative and qualitative Most Outstanding Graduate of the University of Moratuwa, 2016 Gold medal for the highest GPA of the Department of Town and Country Planning, University of Moratuwa, 2016 Most Outstanding Undergraduate Research Project of the Department of Town and Country Planning, University of Moratuwa, 2016 Student Member, American Planning Association

Associate Member, Institute of Town Planners Sri Lanka Student Member, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants H O N O R S A N D A W A R D S

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